JEDDAH: The Pakistani Consulate on Wednesday launched its inaugural food festival in Jeddah.
The two-day event showcased a wide range of authentic Pakistani cuisine. The dining lawn design highlighted the culture of all provinces of Pakistan.
Saudis and officials from 12 foreign consulates attended the event along with their families. Mazen Batterjee, vice chairman of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was the guest of honor.
Batterjie said that food festivals and other similar activities help project the soft image of Pakistan, and that such activities promote products and earn a place in the Saudi market.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy good relations and I am sure such festivals shall bring the Saudi people closer to the Pakistani people, and help develop the taste for Pakistani cuisine,” he said.
In his welcoming speech, Pakistani Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan thanked guests and said such events aim to bring different communities living in the Kingdom closer to each other.
Khan also made a short introduction of the origin, types and varieties of Pakistani food.
“Pakistani cuisine is known for its taste, variety and richness, which is a refined blend of local culinary traditions and finds roots in the wider South Asia, Arabia, and Central Asia,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy told Arab News: “Pakistani and Saudi food are very close to each other. For us as a nation, Saudis are like our big brothers. Saudi Arabia has always helped us whenever we needed them.”
The cuisine included famous Pakistani dishes including biryani and chicken haleem.
“Every Saudi household eats Pakistani basmati rice. A lot of meat and chicken comes from Pakistan. They use Pakistani spices,” the envoy said.
He said that Pakistani food has a vibrant and unique amalgam of the rich, spicy and highly seasoned cuisine from its various regions, like Punjab, Kashmir and Sindh, with the mildly spicy and aromatic recipes from Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Shahzad Ahmed, one of the organizers, said the two countries have common tastes and use similar products when cooking. He said the consulate is planning to organize the food fest on a regular basis.
Laila, a young Saudi woman, said: “I loved eating the ‘chicken haleem.’ And traditional sweets were tremendous too. I wish my school friends could come here and enjoy the festival.”
Traditional cuisine enthralls visitors to Pakistan food festival in Jeddah
Traditional cuisine enthralls visitors to Pakistan food festival in Jeddah
KSrelief’s humanitarian works benefit individuals from Yemen, Ukraine and Sudan
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) humanitarian projects in Yemen, Ukraine and Sudan continue to benefit individuals needing medical and therapeutic intervention.
In Yemen, KSrelief provided services through the Prosthetic and Rehabilitation Center in Aden to 562 patients in November as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare sector and help individuals who require prostheses.
The center also delivered 1,395 services, including the manufacturing, fitting, and rehabilitation of prosthetic limbs, along with physical therapy and specialized consultations.
Also in Aden, a team of medical volunteers undertook an adult urology surgery campaign from Dec. 15 to 22, with the nine specialists performing 15 procedures on patients. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen
In Rzeszow, Poland, KSrelief volunteers fitted prosthetic limbs for 32 Ukrainian refugees between Dec. 8 to 15.
In Sudan’s Port Sudan, volunteers from KSrelief ran a pediatric surgical program and has successfully examined 15 children and performed seven successful surgeries so far.
‘Common Ground’ festival celebrates Saudi Arabia and Iraq cultures
- Art, music and folklore to feature at Riyadh event until Dec. 31
- Over 100 works from Iraqi and Saudi artists will be on display
RIYADH: The Kingdom launched the second “Common Ground” festival on Wednesday to celebrate the rich cultures of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Organized by the Culture Ministry, “Common Ground” features a variety of activities including art, music and folklore.
The ministry invited residents to “explore and celebrate Iraqi culture and the historical and cultural bonds between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq through art, music, storytelling and more.”
The festival, which runs until Dec. 31, is being held at Mega Studio in Riyadh’s Boulevard City.
The event includes a tribute to writer Kareem Al-Iraqi, who died last year, for his contribution to art and literature, which includes novels, plays, songs and screenplays.
The opening night featured songs by renowned Iraqi singer-songwriter Kadim Al-Sahir. And Thursday will have several seminars led by heritage experts.
There will also be over 100 works from Iraqi and Saudi artists on display at the festival.
Meanwhile, in AlUla on Wednesday, Iraq’s Prime Minister Shia Al-Sudani was welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for discussions on regional events.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief launches pediatric surgical program in war-ravaged Sudan
- Medical team assesses 15 children and carries out 7 successful operations during first few days of the project, which is staffed by volunteers
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief this week launched a volunteer pediatric surgical program in the Sudanese city of Port Sudan.
By Wednesday, the medical team had assessed 15 children and carried out seven successful surgeries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Sudan is locked in a civil war between two rival factions of the country’s military government that began in April 2023. It has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced about 12 million people.
The conflict has also had a devastating effect on healthcare, with more than two-thirds of major hospitals in out of service, according to the World Health Organization.
Riyadh governor receives newly appointed Palestinian envoy
Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Palestine to the Kingdom Mazen Ghoneim in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meeting, they discussed various topics of common interest, and Prince Faisal wished the ambassador success in his new duties, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Baha Gov. Prince Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz met with Ambassaor of India to the Kingdom Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan to discuss topics of mutual interest.
Saudi, Australian defense ministers meet in Riyadh
- Prince Khalid, Richard Marles discuss latest developments in region
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman on Wednesday received his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, at his office in Riyadh.
The pair discussed relations between their countries as well as the latest developments in the region, including efforts to support security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A number of other senior officials from the two sides attended the meeting. Marles is also Australia’s deputy prime minister.
